Rivers State Police have arrested a woman on suspicion of child trafficking and rescued 16 children from her residence in Ozuoba, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. The arrest followed a tip-off from local residents who had grown suspicious of the woman’s frequent interactions with children brought from churches and unknown locations.
Residents, who had been quietly monitoring the suspect for an extended period, observed that she often returned home with different children. Some reported seeing as many as 200 children passing through her care over the past two years. This raised alarms in the community, ultimately prompting one concerned individual to contact the police.
One resident, speaking anonymously, described the unfolding events: “This woman has been taking children from churches and various communities across Rivers State. Her activities have been worrying, and on Saturday, several of us confronted her. We immediately alerted the Ozuoba Police.”
Following the report, police officers quickly arrived at the estate, arrested the woman, and rescued the 16 children. Viral footage shared on social media shows several adults gathering the children, some of whom appeared disoriented. Disturbing voices in the video expressed concern for the welfare of the young victims, with one individual exclaiming, “Look at these children, some of them were just brought here. This woman is in serious trouble.”
The police confirmed that they had been investigating the woman for some time as part of a broader effort to address child trafficking in the area. Superintendent Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, acknowledged the incident, stating, “The children were rescued based on credible intelligence. Our team from Ozuoba acted on this information and found 16 children at the suspect’s estate.”
She added that the case has been handed over to the Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit for further investigation, with efforts underway to identify any potential accomplices. “We have one person in custody,” Iringe-Koko continued, “but our investigation is ongoing. We are determined to uncover all those involved in this case.”
Local residents expressed relief over the woman’s arrest, revealing that the children’s presence in the compound had been a growing concern. One individual shared, “For two years, we couldn’t sleep because of the noise. We saw so many children coming and going. It’s been disturbing.”
The incident has drawn significant attention, shedding light on the broader issue of child trafficking in Rivers State and the need for stronger community vigilance and police action to combat this serious crime. Investigations are expected to reveal more about the scope of the suspect’s operations and whether any larger network is involved.
The rescued children are currently under the care of authorities as investigations continue. Meanwhile, the public is urged to remain alert and report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies as the state continues its battle against child trafficking.
